The earth shook with every step they took toward the Black Castle, which stood in the heart of the shadows, its forked black roots cleaving the scorched earth, swallowing up what little light remained. Above them, the sky was split with red lightning, and heavy clouds suffused with the scent of ash and blood.
Eren walked in front, watching the lightning flash on the horizon, the wind following his steps, lifting the ash slightly, leaving a faint trail behind them.
As for Leylin, the fire burned in her hand, calm but alert, her eyes fixed on the upturned towers that hung from the castle, like fangs waiting to devour them.
Rain paused, raised his hand to touch the wind, and said in a low voice, "The air here... is no longer normal air. The wind itself is controlled by the Lord of Ashes."
Sera closed her eyes and struck her staff twice on the ground, releasing a ring of calm green light that temporarily scattered the black ash.
But we are here to free this air... to free everything from its shadow.
As they approached the castle gates, they heard a clang of iron, followed by a tremor in the ground. From beneath the ash emerged a line of black soldiers. Dark humanoid figures with red eyes, carrying long weapons dripping with ash, their bodies disintegrating and reshaping with every movement.
Eren said, "These are the Ash Lord's soldiers..."
Leylin fired a small flame at one of them, burning off part of his arm. He quickly regenerated, turning and advancing without any apparent pain.
Rhain said solemnly, "There's no point in using fire alone... We must break the bonds that bind them to the Ash Lord."
Eren extended his hand, and the wind began to swirl rapidly, sweeping the soldiers to the ground. They stood up again, a little slower, but they did.
Sera shouted, "Target their chests... There are the black knots that bind them to their master's shadow!"
Eren saw the burning black circles beneath the layers of ash in their chests. He quickly advanced and kicked one of them in the chest, causing the outer layer to break and a red flash to appear inside.
Lylin shouted, "Eren, now!"
Lylin fired an arrow of concentrated flame, which pierced the open chest. The shadow soldier exploded into an ash cloud, followed by a slight shockwave across the ground, as if a small portion of the shadows' power had been extinguished.
Their eyes shot up to the rest of the soldiers, who paused for a moment, then advanced more slowly, their heavy weapons raised.
Rayne whistled softly, and the wind gathered beneath the soldiers' feet, slightly pulling the ash away from their feet and revealing more black circles in their chests.
Leylin advanced, unleashing another flame, then another, while Eren quickly made his way, slamming his fist to break the gray layers, piercing Leylin's flames and burning the circles from within.
With each soldier who fell, the black ash flew away, but this time it left behind a clearer air, moments of stillness amidst the chaos of the ash, as if a part of the night were breaking away.
After the last soldier fell, the four stood, breathing slowly, watching the giant black gate before them, marked with a circle symbol surrounded by flames and shadows.
Sera said, "Beyond this gate lies the core of the Ash Lord... our final crossing before the true confrontation."
Leylin stepped forward, placing her hand on the gate. She felt a cold warmth running through her hand, strange pulses, as if something was watching them from within.
Eren said in a steady voice, "We will end all this here... and free the fire and wind from this darkness."
The fire in Leylin's hand burned more intensely, the wind around Eren moved rapidly, and the gate began to tremble, as the ash around it rose in black swirls.
The door opened slowly, letting out a long creak, like a scream from the heart of the earth. A heavy air rose from within, carrying with it the scent of nothingness.
The four stood before the opening darkness, the castle slowly swallowing them up as they entered, knowing that beyond this darkness, the Lord of Ashes lurked, waiting for them.
And this was the beginning of the end.